Slicing apparatus



July 1", 1930.

WITNESSES G. J. DISCHERT -SIJICING APPARATUS Filed'May 2e, 192e INVENTOR:

Healy@ Izscizezz ATTORNEYS.

July 44l, 1930; l G.,.|. Dlsc'z-.HERT 1,768,580

sLIc'NG APPARATUS Filed May 2s, 192s s sheets-sheet 2 Ag'roRNEYs. f

QM. A Bi July 1,1930. y G. .1. DlscHERT I SLICING APPARATUS Filed May' 2e', 1928 3 sheets-sheet s ATTQRNEYS.

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Patented July 1, 193e tra!v if SLICING APPABATUS Application filed May 26',

This invention relates to apparatus useful in slicing articles in loaf form, more particularly bakery products such as bread or cake. The main object of my invention is to enable rapidand uniform slicing of articles like the aforementioned under absolutely sanitary conditions and with minimum waste.

A further object of my invention is to attain the foregoing ends in an apparatus which is'extremely simple in construction and operation, inexpensive to manufacture and capable of easy regulation so that the 15 thickness of the slices may be varied as desired or required.

Still further objects and attendant advantages of my inventionwill be manifest; from the detailed description which fol- 2g lows of the typical embodiment of this in vention illustrated in the drawings.

Fig. I is a perspective view of proved slicing apparatus.

Fig. II shows a longitudinal section of the apparatus, takenas indicated by the arrows II-II in Figs. I and V.

Fig. III is a transverse sectional view, taken as indicated by the arrows III-III in Fig. II. 30 Fig. IV isa detail section, viewed in the 'i direction of the arrows IV-IV in Fig. I.,

Fig. V is a cross sectional view, taken vas indicated by the arrows V-V in Fig. II; and,

Fig. VI is a detail sectional view, taken as indicated by the arrows VI--VI in Fig. IV.

my im- As herein delineated the slicing apparatus comprises a boi;v 10 which is substan- 404 tially rectangular in configuration and preferably constructed throughout from sheet metal. A transevrse partition 11l sets apart a comparatively narrow interspace 12, behind the removable frontalwall 13 of the` box 10; while a compartment 14 isdened by longitudinal partitioning 15, 16 to accommodate the loaf L which is to be sliced. The compartment 14 is accessible from the top of the boX 10, through an opening protested by la; hinged. closure... lid. 1.6i, SeefF-gs.,

ldle 30 for manu-al operation. However, if

1928. Serial No. 280,717.

I, II and V. The remaining space in the4 box is subdivided by a shelf 17 with creation of further compartments 18, 19 which may be employed as storage compartments for eXtra loaves L; said subdivisions 18, 19 being accessible through a laterally swing,- ing door 20 at one side of the boXv 10; From Figs. II-IV it will be observed that the partition 11 has an arched opening 21, in line with the compartment 14, for projection of the forward end ofthe loaf L intol the path of a rotating blade 22 located in the interspace 12, said blade having 4a curved cutting edge 22a, adapted to sweep lacrossfthe opening 21 aforesaid, to sever slices from the loaf L as well as a trailing portion 22h, and an angular recession at 22c functional in,V a manner hereinafter explained. As shown in Figs. IV and VI the cutting blade 22 is securely clamped, by means of a nutV 23, against a circumferential ange ,disk 24 of a tubular shaft 25 which is mounted, for free rotation, on a stud: axis 26 suitably anchored in the partition 11, and extends outward through an opening in the frontal wall 13 of the boX 10. A collar 27, at the 'outer end.` of the stud aXis 26, restrains the tubular shaft against displacement with the cutting blade 22 bearing on an annular bead 11a, offset laterally from the partition 11, see Figs. II, III and IV. Keyed to 'the tubular shaft 25, with capacity to slide longitudinally thereon for a purpose later on1 explained, is a ksleeve 28 which, at its in ner` end, carries a segmental cam 29 with angula-rly deiiected terminal wings 29a, 29D. Exteriorly of the box 10 the sleeve 28 has se-Y cured to it a driving means having,sin' the.` present instance, `the form of ancrank han- 9o.4 powerV operation lofthe device is desired, a pulley or aY gear may obviously be substituted for the crank handle 30. The loaf L is urged forwardin the compartment 14 by a follower 32 which may be conveniently fashioned from sheet metal with a vertical buttress portion 33, and a laterally turned end portion 34 Y ,roviding ears to engage guide rods 36,y Xedly securedalong; `011e side of ,the compartment. 100

14. The turned end portion 34 of the follower 32 carries a pin 37 which projects into the hollow side wall 38 Vof the box 10 (Fig. V) for engagement by a lever "I his lever 39 is fulcrumed at its lower end on a screw 40, and is acted upon by a helical tension spring 41. `To facilitate its retraction in opposition to the action of the spring 41 while inserting 'a new loaf L into the compartment 14, the follower 32 is equipped with a hand grasp 42.

The extent of forward projection of the loaf L under urge of the follower 32 beyond the plane of the cutting blade 22 is limited by a stop plate 45 which is thus instrumental in determining the thickness of the slices. This stop plate 45 is hinged, along its upper edge at 4, within the top of the frontal interspace 12 of the boX 10, grd-.and is subject toa leaf spring 47 which tends to push it forward toward the wall 13. During cutting of the bread slices by the blade 22, the stop plate 45 is held in the position shown in the drawings by the segrmental cam 29 which over-travels it. is shown in Fig. III the stop plate 45 has angularly deflected tabs 45, 45b which lie in the path of the wings 29a, 29h, of the segmental cam 29. By virtue of this provision, the stop plate 45 is moved inward 'to the normal or active position without attendant abruptncss or noise, and its recession to free the cut bread slices is similarly cased with avoidance of slamming against the frontal wall 18 of the box 10 under the push of the leaf spring 47.

To prevent flexure of the cutting blade 22 during the slicing operation under pressure of the loaf L, I place a cross bar 50 within the interspace 12 which affords outer surface bearing for said blade. llhe cross barl 50 also functions as a support for a chute 51 by which the cut slices are directed to a discharge opening 52, in the frontal wall 13 of the bor; 10. To receive the bread slices so discharged the box is equipped with a drawer or tray 53 which is slidable in a guideway formed in the hollow bottom 54 of said bor: in line with the discharge opening 52. An auxiliary chute 55 within the frontal interspace 12 serves to direct crumbs from the region of the cutting into the rear end of the drawer 53 when the latter is withdrawn from the box 10 to receive -f the severed bread slices.

In operation of the apparatus, as the handle is turned clockwise, or in the direction of the arrow in Fig. I, that portion of the loaf L, projecting forward of the plane of the cutting blade 22 is severed incidental to sweep of the latter past the opening 21 of the partitionk 11, the extent `of the loaf projection and the thickness of the slice bcing determined as previously stated, by the stop plate 45. Immediately after the cut- CII ting of the slice as just explained, the stop plate 45 is released to the action of its spring 47 as a consequence of the circular advance of the segmental cam 29 from engagement therewith, the slice being thus freed to drop, under the guidance of the chute 51, through the discharge opening 52 into the drawer' or tray 58, previously withdrawn to receive it. During the discharge of the slice, the bread loaf L is restrained from moving through the opening 21, of the partition 11, by the trailing portion 22b of the knife blade 22, until the angular recession 22c of said blade registers with the opening 21 to permit forward movement of the bread loaf L under urge of the follower 32, as already understood.

In order that the thickness of the slices may be varied, the apparatus is equipped with means for adjusting the position of the segmental cam 29, on the tubular shaft 25 of the cutting blade 22, to alter the normal or active position of the stop plate 45, relative to the partition 11. This adjusting means is detailed in Figs. IV and VI, wherefrom it will be noted the same embodies a thumb nut 56 which engages the diametrically reduced threaded end 25a of the cutting lade tubular shaft 25, and bears against the outer end of the sleeve 28 thereby opposing a helical spring 5'?, in compression between the inner end of said sleeve and the clamp nut 23. Thus by turning the thumb nut in one direction, the segmental cam 29 is moved inward, while, by turning it in the opposite direction said cam is moved outward by the spring 57 with corresponding changes in the normal or active position of the stop plate 45. Notwithstanding adjustment of the cam 29, in the manner just explained, the outward swing of the stop plate 45 to free the cut slices is always limited as a consequence of abutment with the frontal wall 13 of the box 10.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a slicing apparatus which is simple and compact in construction, absolutely sanita-ry and by aid of which articles in loaf form can be rapidly cut into subdivisions of uniform thickness without waste or deformation.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In apparatus for slicing bread loaves or the like, means for guiding the loaf, cutting means movable crosswise of the loaf, means to urge the loaf toward the cutting means, and stop means under control of a rotary winged cam to limit the projection f the loaf end beyond the plane of the cutting means, thereby to determine the thickness of the slices, said stop means having tabs co-active with the cam wings during each actuation of the cutting means to effect retraction of the stop means for freeing the lijd severed slices and to jreturn the same to active position.

2. In apparatus for slicing. bread loaves and the like, means for'guiding :the loaf, rotary cutting 'means movable crosswise of the loaf, means to urge the loaf toward the cutting means, stop means under control of a 'segmental Winged cam to limit projection ofthe loaf end beyond the plane of the cutting' means thereby to determine the thickness of the slices, said stopl means having deflected tabs co-active With the cam Wings during each rotation ofthe Acutting' means to elect'retraction ofthe stop means to release the severed slice and subsequently return the same to normal active position, and means whereby the stop means can be adjusted to regulate the slice thickness.

3; In apparatus for slicing bread loaves and the like, guide means for the loaf, rotary cutting means movable crosswise ofthe loaf, means to urgethe loaf toward the cutting' means, stop means to limitprojection ofthe loaf end beyond the plane 'of the cutting means thereby to determine the thickness ofthe slices, a rotary Winged cam movable vvith the cutting means to hold the stop means in fixed position during each cutting operation, and means for subsequently retracting the stopmeans to free the slice.

4C. In apparatus for slicing bread loaves or the like, means to guide the loaf, cutting means movable crossvvise` of the loaf, means to urge the loaf towards the cutting means, a stop plate to limit projection of the loaf end beyond the plane of the cutting means, thereby to determine the thicknesses of the slices, a cam movable With the cutting means adapted' to overtravelthe stop plate and hold it positionally fixed during each cutting operation, and means operative upon passage of the cam for retracting the stop to free the slice.

5. In apparatus for slicing bread loaves and the like, means for guiding the loaf, a rotary cutting blade movable Vcrosswise of the loaf, means to urge the loaf toward the cutting blade, astop plate to limit projection-ofthe loaf end beyond the plane of the cutting blade thereby to determine` thc thickness of the slices, a segmental cam mounted on the axis and rotatable with the cutting blade for capacity to over-travel the stop plate and hold it positionally fixed during each cutting operation, said cam being axially adjustable on the blade axis for regulation of the slice thickness, and means operative upon passage of the cam for retracting the stop plate to' free the slice. c

6. yIn apparatus for slicing bread loaves and the like, means for guiding'the loaf, a rotary cutting blade movable crossWise of the loaf, means to. urge the loaf toward the cutting blade, a stop plate to limit projection of the loaf end beyond the plane of the cuttingv blade thereby to determine the thickness of the slices, a segmental cam` mountedon the blade axis, and rotatable- With the blade for capacity to over-travell the stop plate and hold it positionally fixed during each cutting operation, said cam being axially adjustable on the blade kaxis for` regulation of the slice thickness, and means operative upon passage of the cam for retracting the stop plate to free the slice.

7. In apparatus for slicing bread loaves and the like, means for guiding the loaf, a rotary' cutting blade movable crosswise of;

the loaf, means to urge the loaf toward the cutting blade, a stop plate to limit projection of the loaf end beyond the plane of the cutting blade thereby to determine the thickness of vthe slices, a segmental cam mounted',

on the blade axis and movable With the blade for capacity to over-travel the stop plate and hold it positionally fixed during each cutting operation, means on the blade axis for adjusting the cam to predetermine the normal position of the stopv plate relative to the cutting blade and thereby regulate the slice thickness, and means operative upon .passage of the cam for retracting the stop yplate toy free the slice.

8. In apparatus for slicing bread loaves orthe like, means for guiding the loaf, .cuttingmeans movable crossvvise ofthe loaf,

means to urge the loaf toward thecutting rmeans, stopl means under control of an adj ustable rotary cam to limit projection ofthe loaf end beyond the planeof the cutting means thereby to determine the thickness of the slices, and means to restrain the loaff incidentally to release of the stop means for the purpose of freeing the cut slices. Y 9. In apparatus for slicing bread loaves or the like, means for guiding the loaf, vcutting means movable crosswise of the loaf, means to urge the loaf toward the cutting means, and stop means under control of a rotary adjustable Winged-cam-to limit projectionof the loaf end beyond the plane of the cutting means thereby to determine thethickness of the slices, the cut-ting means aforesaid having a trailing portion functional in restraining the loaf incidental to release of the stop means for the purpose of freeing the cut slices.

10. In apparatus for slicing bread loaves and the like, means for guiding the loaf, a

rotary cutting blade movable crossvvise of the loaf, means to urge the loaf tovvardthe cutting means, and stop means under control of an adjustable Winged-cam rotatingr ll. In apparatus for slicing bread leaves and the like, a box affording a compartment to accommodate and guide the leaf, said box having a transverse partition to set apart a narrow interspace behind its frontal wall, a cutting blade with exterior actuating means movable crosswise of an opening in the partition, means for urging the leaf forward in the compartment through the partition opening, a stop under control of an adjustable winged-cam rotating with the cutting blade to limit the projection of the loaf end beyond the cutting blade, thereby to determine the thickness ef the slices, said stop rctracting automatically with each actuation of the knife to free the severed slice, and a chute also within the interspace aforesaid to guide the slices to a discharge opening in the frontal wall of the box.

12. In apparatus for slicing bread loaves and the like, a box affording a compartment to accommodate and guide a loaf, said box having a transverse partition to set apart a narrow interspace behind its frontal wall, a cutting blade, with exterior actuating means movable in such interspace crosswise of an opening in the partition, means for urging the loaf forward in the compartment through the partitionopening, stop means within the interspace to limit projection cf the loaf beyond the plane of the cutting blade to determine the thickness of the slices, said stop means retracting automatically with each actuation of the blade to free the severed slice, a chute within the interspace aforesaid to guide the slices to a discharge opening in the frontal wall of. the box, a sliding tray beneath the discharge opening for receiving the slices, and an auxiliary chute also within the interspacc for conducting crumbs from the region of cutting into the rear of the sliding tray.

13. In apparatus for slicing bread loaves and the like, a box affording a compartment to Vaccommodate and guide a loaf, said box having a transverse partition to set apart a narrow interspace behind its frontal wall, rotary cutting blade movable in such interspace crosswise of an opening in the partition, the shaft of said rotary blade extending through the frontal wall of the box for attachment of drive means, means for urging the loaf forward through the partition opening, and stop means under control of an adjustable winged-cam rotating with the cutting blade to limit projection of the loaf beyond the cutting blade to determine the thickness of the slices, said stop means retracting automatically with each actuation of the blade to free the slice for discharge through an opening in the frontal wall of the box.

14:. In apparatus for slicing bread loaves and the like, a box affording a compartment to accommodate and guide a loaf, said box having a transverse partition to set apart a narrow interspace behind its frontal wall, a rotary cutting blade movable in such interspace crosswise of an opening in the partition, the shaft of said rotary blade extendthrough the frontal wall of the box for attachment of drive means, means for urging the loaf forward through the partition opening, stop means under control of a segmental-cam having angularly deflected wings and rotating with the cutting blade te limit projection of the loaf beyond the cutting blade to determine the thickness of the slices, said stop means retracting automatically with each actuation of the blade to free the slice for discharge through an opening in the frontal wall of the box, and adjusting means accessible at the exterior of the bex for regulating the normal position of the stop means to vary the slice thickness.

15. In apparatus for slicing bread loaves and the like, a box affording a compartment to accommodate and guide a loaf, said box having a transverse partition to set apart a narrow interspace behind its frontal wall, a rotary cutting blade movable in such interspace crcsswise of an opening in the partitien, the shaft of said rotary blade extending through the frontal wall of the box for attachment of drive means, means for urging the loaf forward through the partition opening, stop means under control of a segmental-.cam having angularly deflected wings and rotating with the cutting blade te limit projection of the loaf beyond the cutting blade to determine the thickness of the slices, said stop means retracting automatically with each actuation of the blade to free the slice for discharge through an opening in the frontal wall of the box, and

adjusting means manipulatable at the pos-A terior end of the cutting blade shaft for regulating the normal position of the stop to vary the slice thickness.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my naine at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 22nd day of May, 1928.

GEORGE J. DISCHERT. 

